Device for accelerating the disconnection of electric switches and for extinguishing their arc



SWITCHES AND EXTINGUISHING THEI R" Filed April 12, 1961 D 14, 1964Mufi'oz DE VARGAS 3,1 307 DEVICE FOR AC ERAT THE DISCONNECTION ELECTRI 3ets-Sheet l i i 5 I E g i 76 4 xi I [or B fim'lhu/ [19%4/ Attorney pr14, 1954 J. MUNOZ DE VARGAS 7 DEVICE FOR ACCELERATING THE DISCONNECTIONOF ELECTRIC SWITCHES AND FOR EXTINGUISHING THEIR ARC Filed April 12.1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor W1: fiwm pl i By MMMLJMW Attorney J.MuNoz DE VARGAS 3,129,307 DEVICE FOR ACCELERATING THE DISCONNECTION OFELECTRIC A ril 14, 1964 SWITCHES AND FOR EXTINGUISHING THEIR ARC FiledApril 12, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnventpr 2m: 0Q 07 y fiwm/ 1 14.,

Attorney United States Patent DEVICE FQR ACCELERATENG THE DISCONNEC-TEQN 0F ELECTRNI SWITCHES AND FOR EX- TENGUESHING THEIR ARC Jose Munozde Vargas, Calle San Pablo 1, Seville, Spain Filed Apr. 12, 1961, Ser.No. 102,418 Ciaims priority, application Spain Apr. 13, 1960 ltl Claims.(Cl. Nil-144) This invention relates to electric switches and, inparticular, to a process by which extremely high connectionspeeds areobtained therein, this high speed, combined with a tight seal producedin accordance with the invention, enabling the formation of the arc tobe prevented, because there is insufiicient space for the arc to form,it being of advantage to install the system of contacts in an enclosedchamber, filled with inert dry gas, thus ensuring that rust does notform on the contacts and that the internal insulation of the apparatusdoes not suffer deterioration as a result of damp.

Circuit-breakers have to perform the maximum of work when theydisconnect by a short circuit. The limit of the operating-capacity of aswitch is its rupturing power, which depends on the characteristics ofthe current, on the disconnection-speed, on the area and shape of thecontacts and on the medium in which the break takes place (air, oil, amagnetic field, etc.).

Consequently, the present switches for high currents have contacts whichare either very large or subjected to very high surface-pressures. Inboth cases the apparatus has to be very robust in its construction, andthis necessitates a great deal of energy for overcoming the eliects ofinertia and obtaining high speeds, so that more economical and morerapid operating-systems, such as the electro-magnets of lowercarrying-capacity, cannot be employed.

It follows that with any switch, whether operating in air, in oil, in amagnetic field, etc., the rapid separation of the contacts produces, fora few moments, a certain gap between their surfaces, and since thispartial vacuum is conductive, the current tends to flow across it,rendering it incandescent, by virtue of the joule effect, or in otherwords, striking an arc. If We endeavour to reduce the area of thecontacts, in order to reduce this vacuum zone, we shall increase thecurrent-density, and this in turn again favours the formation of thearc. In order to obviate this drawback the idea was conceived ofconveying a jet of air or oil onto the separated contacts, to extinguishthe are by a mechanical elfect, but the extinguishing-jet cannot actuntil the contacts have started to move apart, that is to say, until thearc has already been produced.

It sometimes happens that the intensity of the current flowing duringthe first phase of the disconnection is very high, almost equivalent toa short circuit, whereupon the heat produced by the said arc is such asto result in almost instantaneous gasification of part of the oil, theconsequence being an explosion. Furthermore, the high temperature of thearc produces granulations which prevent faultless contact and causedangerous temperature-rises.

For these reasons, the said mechanisms have to be inspected and examinedafter each operation, whenever a short circuit has occurred. Theinconvenience of such proceedings in an electrical plant are fullyobvious.

The purpose of the invention is to remove these drawbacks from the knownsystems.

The invention provides for a process consisting of increasing thedisconnection-speed of electric switches to a considerable extent (anobject which can be achieved by reducing the Weight of the moving partsto a minimum) and of automatically interposing between the contacts anincombustible solid insulating body, all of which enables the creationof the arc to be prevented, because when the said insulating body isinterposed at a very high speed a tight seal is thereby provided betweenthe two contacts, preventing any current from passing and thereforepreventing the are from forming.

The operation of a switch in which this process is applied will be in asense similar to that of the piston of an explosion-engine. When thispiston is rapidly displaced, a practically tight seal is producedbetween the explosion-chamber and the crankcase, preventing thecombustion-gases from reaching the latter. In our case, what isprevented by the piston with its auxiliary organs is the possibility ofthe are passing from one contact to another.

In one constructional version of a device for the application of thisprocess, the contacts of the switch are situated, diametrically oppositeto each other, in an insulating-cylinder, and the circuit is closed bymeans of a number of rings or segments of a material which is a goodconductor of electricity, which said devices break the circuit when theyare displaced, while their place is occupied by an insulating body, suchas asbestos, which, owing to the high speed of movement and the pressureexerted by the packing of asbestos against the walls of the cylinder,produces between the contacts a tight seal which prevents the currentfrom flowing.

In this construction, the disconnecting-mechanismis operated by a springwhich is locked or released by a pawl.

This basic construction has a number of draw-backs: the fact that thecontacts are situated diametrically opposite each other means that thecylinders for high working voltages have to be given large diameters,and this results in considerable friction.

Consequently, in a design which now appears desirable, the contacts ofthe switch consist of concentric tubular parts, the diameter andthickness of the tubes depending solely on the cross section requiredfor the passage of the current, the friction thus being reduced to suchan extent thatthe system can be operated by low current electron-magnetsinstead of by springs.

This innovation incorporated into the preferred constructional versionof the invention is so revolutionary that it enables extremely high.connectionand breakspeeds to be obtained, since its operation ispractically instantaneous. Besides eliminating the drawbacks of thepawl, in certain cases, or of the compressed air, in other, it is a farmore economical and eflicient process than all those at present in use.

The adoption of concentric tubular contacts enables the apparatus to bevery inexpensively constructed and facilitates the tight sealing of thecontact-chamber, once it is filled with an inert and dry gas.

This makes it possible to use contacts of copper instead of contactsmade of costly stainless alloys and also to give the insulators smallerdimensions, when there is no humidity.

The fundamental difference between the process which we are about todescribe and other patents based on the interposition of insulatingbodies between the contacts from the moment of disconnection onwards isthat our process ensures a tight seal which physically prevents thepassage of the current, and this seal is obtained by the pressureexerted against the walls of the contact-chamber by an electricallyinsulating incombustible elastic system, such as a cord of asbestos orplastic suitable for interposition between the current-input andcurrent-output contacts, the body of asbestos or similar substanceoccupying the space which was occupied by the movable contact, the tightseal produced by the asbestos of similar e) substance preventing the arcirom forming between the inputand output-contacts.

The attached drawings illustrate two constructional versions of electricswitches intended for the practical application of the process to'whiohthe invention'relates, and a detailed description of these switches willbe given in conjuction' with the said drawings. In these latter- FIG. 1is a sectional elevation, for thefir'st constructional version ofthejinvention, of the cylinder forming the body of the switch;

FIG, 11; is ahorizontal sectional drawingrcorresponding to FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 represents the piston accommodated inside the cylinder, thisbeing a vertical sectional elevation;

FIG. 2a is a horizontal sectional drawing corresponda F G- FIG. 3 is asectional elevation of the complete switch in the closed-circuitposition;

FIG.. 4 is a sectional elevation corresponding to FIG. 3 and showing thestart of the disconnection movement;

FIG. 5 is a similar diagram of'the switchafter complete disconnection;

FIG. 6 is a similar diag am of the final phase of the disconnection;

FIG. 7, which relates to the second constructional 'version of theinvention, is a sectional clevational representing the cylinder, withits piston and, bellows, and the connecting-rod and lever with theelectroamagnets for the operation of the device, in the connectedposition;

'FIG. 8 is a partial sectional elevation corresponding to FIG. 7, andrepresents the upper part of the cylinder and piston at the start of thedisconnection; 4

FIG. '9 is ascction or the cylinder "andth'e' piston, along the line 99of FIG. 8;

FI G..-10.'is a sectionalfelevation representing, the cylinder and thepiston in the disconnected position.

With reference to the drawings, and referring for the moment to FIGS.1-6, it will be noted. that the switch or phase. of a switch showntherein consists of a tube 1 of a hard, highly insulant andincornbustible material, such. as the synthcticresinknohvn. as,araldite, and that the four parts 2., 2', of a "material which is a goodconductor of electricity, such as copper, are rigidly embedded 'in thesaid tube. Each of these parts 2 is connected to the conne'c'tingterminals 3 and 4, the first one being the cur-, rent-inputconnection-terminal and the other, 4, on the same side, being thecurrent-output terminal. The parts 2 on the opposite side areelectrically bridged by the part 5, which must obviously be -a goodconductor of electricity likewise. The-internal surface of the tube 1,with the four embeddedparts 2, forms a smooth assembly withoutprojecting parts or edges, like the cylinder of an explosion-motor.

With reference to 'FIG. 2, this shows the construction of the piston 6,of the same material as the tube 1, twosegments 7 and 7' of elastic andconductive material, such as hardened copper, being movabl yaccommodated in the said piston and functioning similar to thepistonsegrnents of an explosion-engine, that is to say,- beingvigorously pressed against the internal walls of the cylin-. der 1.These segments 7, 7, have a recess 21 to ensure better contact betweenthe segments; and theparts 2, very ample contact-surfaces thus beingobtainable. Between the diameter of the piston 6 and that of the tube 1'there is just that slight gap required to enable the piston to movefreely inside the tube. In addition to the aforesaid segments, packingsor segments S ot a highly insulant and incombustible materialsuchasasbestos or suitable synthetic resin are accommodated in the same mannerin the piston 6 and fit firmly against the internal surface of the tube1, forming the most complete seal possible. The piston 6 extends atthebottom in the form of a tube 9, at the top of which there is an orifice10 to enable a helicoidal spring 111 (see FIG; 3) to engage in it. Tothe top of the piston 6 is affixed an operatingrod 12 with a projection13 to accommodate a pawl.

Let us now place the piston 6 inside the tube 1, as may be seen fromFIG. 3. Let us engage one end of a spring 11 in the orifice 10 of thepiston 6 and the other end in the lower part 14 of the tube 1. Thisspring tends to displace piston 6 violently in a downward direction, anaction which is prevented by the pawl 15 when the latter engagestheprojection 13. Inside the tube 1 there is also a second piston 15,similar to the piston 6, and also having conductive segments 17-, 17'but without a packing. This piston 16 is caused to move upwards by thespring 18, 19 being a stop of which the purpose is to limit the travelof the piston 16.

Let us now examine the operation of the switch: in FIG. 3 it is shown inthe connected position. The current enters through the terminal 3,passes to the part 2 and thence through the segments 7 and '7 to theopposite part2, which in turn transmits it through 5 to 2'. The currentpasses via, the segments 17 and 17' to the opposite part 2" and thenceto the output-terminal 4.

If we now release the pawl 15, as shown in FIG. 4, the spring 11 causesthe piston 6 to travel freely downwards with a violcnt movement, untilthe bottom end of thevtube 9 reaches the head of the piston 16 thisposition being shown in FIG. 4. The current has been interrupted betweenthe mutually opposite parts 2 on the displacement of the. segments 7and. '7' by which they were connected. In an ordinary switch the arcwould have beenstruck between the lower ends of the parts 2 and theupper part of the segment 7. However, for an arc to form, current mustfiow and a space favourable to the etc must exist, but the packing orinsulating-segments 8. have been. interposed at a high speed and with atight seal effect between the parts 2 and 7, the zone in which the arccould be struck, thus eliminating the tendency of the current tocontinue flowing between the contacts whichare. moving apart, since thematerial interposed is highly. insulant and forms a tight seal againstthe walls of the tube 1, thus preventing any possibility of the flow ofcurrent and thus of the formation of the arc. In its 'rapiddescent, thepiston 6, after the circuit has been broken, reaches the piston 16, aswe may see from FIG. 4. At this moment it encounters piston 16 and pullsit downwards, until the position shown in FIG. 5 is reached, since theforce of the spring 11, added to the energy of .the part .6 in movement,is greater than the opposing force of the spring 18. The pawl 20 thenautomatically engages, fixing the piston 16 in the position shown inFIG. 5, which represents the switch in the disconnected position. Thecurrent is interrupted both by the displacement of the segments 7 and '7and 'by that of the segments 17-and 17'.

In order to re-connect, we move the piston6 upwards by means of the rod12, until the pawl 15 is engaged, as shown in FIG. 6. It should be notedthat since the piston 16 is-1 etained by the pawl 20 the circuit remainsopen, so that this first phase of the connection is effected withoutcurrent. In order to close it, the pawl 2% must bereleased. The actionof the spring 18 will then cause the piston. 16 to move rapidly upwardsuntil it reaches the stops 19, thus closing the circuit when thesegments 17 and 17'-come in contact with the parts 2.

This first constructional version of the invention thus provides aswitch with an extremely quick break, by reducing thetorces of inertiato a minimum, since the only part in motion is the piston 6 with itsfree connection-rod 12,-of a light-weight material; the connection is asrapid as the break.

Let us;now examine what occurs in the event of disconnection by a shortcircuit. When reconnection is desired-in-a'circuit-breakerand the shortcircuit continues, the contactor-element performing a rapidconnectionmovement, which may, for example, be in an upward direction,has to change its direction of movementsuddenly, the circumstances thusbeing analogous to those which arise with a connecting rod and crankmechanism. The forces of inertia oppose the change of direction ofmovement, causing an inevitable delay in the disconnection. This veryserious drawback, which doubles the time required for the connection andwhich so greatly influences the short-circuit effects, does not prevailwith the switch to which this patent relates. As will be seen from FIG.6, the piston 6 is connected, and at rest, when the piston 16 is movedto the connecting-position. As soon as this occurs, the overload-relayacts on the pawl 15 and trips it, without any change of movement,because it is in its position of rest, and without any obstacle in itsdisconnection-travel, until after the disconnection has taken place.

The piston, in its dual function of contactor and insulating and sealingelement, must have the physical characteristics required to enable it tostand up to the task demanded of the switch of which it forms a part; inother words, its dimensions, the quality of the materials of which it ismade, and the number of its segments, both the conductive ones and theinsulant ones, will depend on the current-characteristics and therupturing-capacity required. No further explanatory remarks are requiredin this connection, the subject being known to electrical engineers.

The main advantages of this new switch are therefore as follows:

It does not necessitate any apparatus for the production of compressedair, or larger or smaller volumes of oil, or the creation of magneticfields or of large labyrinthine spaces.

There is no danger of fire or explosion.

The weight of the contact-parts, like that of the moving elements, isvery moderate.

The contact-area is very ample, temperature-rises thus being obviated.

The contacts no longer have to be frequently inspected, the seriousinconvenience thus caused to an electricity service thus beingeliminated.

The disconnection-time is far shorter than at present, since there areno parts which successively have to change their direction of motion,this being a most important factor in the re-connection operationnecessitated by short circuits.

All these advantages are obtained to the maximum extent, and stillfurther advantages can be obtained by the second constructional versionof the invention, as will be realized from the following description,given with reference to FIGS. 7l0 on the attached drawings, in which,wherever possible, the same reference-numbers have been retained forsimilar or different parts.

1 is a tube of hard mechanizable insulating material such as aralditeresin, in which two tubular parts 2 and 2', of a highly conductivematerial such as hardened copper, which are connected to the electriccircuit by the terminals 3 and 4, are rigidly embedded.

The inside of the three tubes 1, 2 and 2' forms a smooth surface withoutprojections, like the jacket of the cylinder of an explosion-engine.Inside there is a cylindrical rod 6 of the same material as the tube 1,with a widened part 22 in the vicinity of its centre. At the top thereis a screw-threaded part 23, of the same insulating material, and this,with the support 24, situated on the lower part of the rod, guides themovement of this latter in order to keep it at all times parallel to theaxis of the tubular system 1, 2, 2.

At the top of the widened part 22 there is a movable bridge 17,consisting of two cylindrical halves of a highly conductive material,such as hard copper, its circumference at its upper and lowerextremities being exactly equal to the interior of the tubular parts 2,2, the said movable bridge being, vigorousiy pressed against the wallsof .2, 2 by the action of powerful springs 25, which may, for example,be made of hardened steel.

6 The movable bridge 17 electrically bridges the input circuit 2 withthe output circuit 2' when the switch is connected.

An insulating disc 26, of the same material as the rod 6, rests on theupper part of the movable bridge 17, and between the disc 26 and thepart 23 there is a kind of elastic packing 8, made of material which isa good electrical insulant and which is incombustible, such as asbestoscord or a plastic of suitable shape and nature, such as aralditeplastic. This packing 8, when the rod is at rest (see FIG. 7), is onlyslightly pressed against the internal wall of the tube 2', and it isonly on the descending movement of the rod 6 (see FIGS. 8 and 10) thatthe said packing 8 is compressed suificien-tly to move the movablebridge 17, firmly pressed by its springs against the Walls of the tube1, 2, 2', via the disc 26, which acts freely with respect to the rod 6.This compression of the packing 8, which acts in a radial direction bothoutwards and inwards, and in an axial direction against the head of themovable bridge 17, thus obstructing all possible leakage-paths, is theaction which produces a tight seal against the internal walls of thetube 1, .2, 2, and this tight seal will continue until the rod 6 reachesthe disconnected position of rest to which FIG. 10 refers.

When FIGS. 7 and 8 are compared it will be seen how the packing 8 hasbeen compressed on the sudden descent of the rod 6, forming a perfectseal between the surfaces of the chamber.

The rod 6 has a widened part 27 at the bottom, to which said pant isaffixed, by way of a closing-device, one of the ends of a bellows 28, ofinsulating-material, such as rubber or a suitable plastic. The other endof the bellows is affixed in a similar manner to the lower end of thetube 2', thus forming a tight chamber with the cylinder.

The switch is operated by means of the lever 29, rigidly connected tothe shaft 311, which is common to the various phases of which the switchconsists and which transmits its movement to the rod 6 via theconnectingrod 31. The iron lever 29 can be acted upon by one of theelectro-magnets 32 or 33, for the connectingor breaking-action.

At the top of the rod 6 there is a drilled hole 34 which establishescommunication between the upper and the lower chamber of the cylinder 2,2, in order to avoid compressions or depressions when the rod isdisplaced, as this would result in an undeniable braking-action.

The assembly consisting of the rod 6, the movable bridge 17 and thepacking 8 will be termed the piston.

Let us now see how the switch operates: in FIG. 7 it is in the connectedposition. The current passes from the terminal 3 to the cylinder 2 and,via the movable bridge 17, to the tube 2' and to the output-terminal 4.The bellows 28 is com-pressed, and the two electro-magnets 32 and 33 aredisconnected. The switch is held in the connected or disconnectedposition by any of the processes already known to electrical engineersfor automatically maintaining certain limit positions, e.g. by aspring-loaded ball.

To disconnect the switch, the electro'magnet 33 is excited. Itinstantaneously attracts the lever 29 until the position shown by abroken line in FIG. 7 is reached.

As already mentioned, this sudden movement causes the head 23 of thepiston to press the packing 8 against the dis-c 26, braked by themovable bridge 17, which remains motionless until the packing has beensufficiently compressed to overcome the action of the springs 25 againstthe internal wall of the cylinder 1, 2, 2..

At the moment when the upper edge of the movable bridge 1'7 leaves thelower edge of the cylinder 2, this position being illustrated in FIG. 8,the arc will commence between the two edges. But immediately, forexample within a period of the order of a hundredth of a second, thespace left between the said edges is occupied by the packing 8,.nowfirmly pressed against the internal walls of the tube formed by theparts 1, Z, 2, producing a tight seal both against the said walls andagainst the disc 26, and also against the rod 6. It is thus impossiblefor the arc to form, since its paths between the upper edge of themovable bridge 17 and the lower edge of the tube 2, are entirelyobstructed by an insulating-medium.

In view of the rapidity with which the electromagnet functions, thespeed imparted to the piston is extremely high, since the weight of thecomplete piston, for a lowtension switch of 500 amperes, is of the orderof only 300 grams per phase. It is the fact that this high speed takesplace simultaneously with the compression of the packing 8 that producesthe tight seal, as occurs in an explosion-engine.

FIG. 10 shows the switch in the disconnected position, and the sealingaction produced by the packing 8, when compressed, is clearlyillustrated in this diagram.

As already mentioned, the interior of the cylinder, as well as thechamber formed by the bellows, are filled with an inert dry gas, such asnitrogen, at a pressure slightly above atmospheric. The absence ofhumidity enables the dimensions of the insulating-parts, as well as thegap between the contacts, i.e. the gap marked 35 in FIG. 10, to bereduced to the minimum, and the contact-parts to be made of hardelectrolytic copper without risk of oxidation.

The coils of the electro-magnets 32 and 33 are only under low tensionduring the moment taken by the piston to move.

To re-connect, current is supplied to the coil of the electro-nagnet 32,which, on moving the iron lever 29 in the opposite direction to thepreceding one, conveys the movable bridge 17 to the connected positionshown in FIG. 7.

This process enables extremely short re-connecting times to be obtained.

7 The fact that the packing 8 is not at first firmly pressed against thewalls of the cylinder 2 but only when the rod 6 commences its descentconsiderably reduces the force required to bring about the movement,since the friction against the walls of the cylinder is then veryslight.

The sections of the cylinders 2 and 2', as Well as those of the movablebridge 17, depends on the intensity of the current at which the switchhas to operate. The thickness of insulation 35 between the edges of 2and 2', as well as the length of the movable bridge 17, the dimensionsof the packing 8 and the characteristics of the insulating-rod 31 dependon the working voltage.

As the action required for the operation of the switch is merely that ofconnecting one or other of the two coils 32 and 33, this system enablesvery inexpensive circuitbreakers with a re-connecting device to beconstructed, since the work which has to be done by the electro-rnagnetis practically negligible, and all that is required to ensure there-connection is to instal a simple clockwork or bi-metal system toconnect the coil 33 a short time after the switch has been disconnected.

The process described can obviously be applied with devices differentfrom those discussed, and the system of protection thereby obtained willnaturally be extended to these other devices likewise.

I claim:

1. A device, for accelerating electric switching and preventing theformation of an arc comprising, in combination,

current conducting means;

movably supported switch means;

a current conducting switch member supported by said switch means in amanner whereby said current conducting switch member is positioned incontact with and closes circuit with said current conducting means in afirst position of said switch means;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said current conducting switch member by one of said means in amanner whereby in a second position of said switch means saidsubstantially elastic electrical insulating material is positioned incompressed state between said current conducting means and said currentconducting switch member so as to prevent formation of any arc and formsa substantially tight seal between the same;

and control means for automatically moving said switch means from itsfirst to its second position instantaneously so that said substantiallyelastic electrical insulating material instantaneously replaces saidcurrent conducting switch member in position between said currentconducting means and said current conducting switch member upon movementof said switch means from its first to its second position.

2. A device for accelerating electric switching and preventing theformation of an arc comprising, in combination,

spaced current conducting means;

movably supported switch means;

a current conducting switch member supported by said switch means in amanner whereby said current conducting switch member is positionedbetween and short circuits said current conducting means in a firstposition of said switch means;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said current conducting switch member by one of said means in amanner whereby in a second position of said switch means saidsubstantially elastic electrical insulating material is positioned incompressed state between said current conducting means and said currentconducting switch member so as to prevent formation of an arc and formsa substantially tight seal between the same;

and control means for automatically moving said switch means from itsfirst to its second position instantaneously so that said substantiallyelastic electrical insulating material instantaneously is positioned incompressed state between said current conducting means and said currentconducting switch member upon movement of said switch means from itsfirst to its second position.

3. A device for accelerating electric switching and preventing theformation of an arc comprising, in combination,

first and second pairs of spaced current conducting means;

first and second movably supported switch means;

a first current conducting switch member supported by said first switchmeans in a manner whereby said first current conducting switch member ispositioned between and short circuits said first current conductingmeans in a first position of said first switch means;

a second current conducting switch member supported by said secondswitch means in a manner whereby said second current conducting switchmember is positioned between and short circuits said second currentconducting means in a first position of said second switch means;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said first current conducting switch member by one of saidswitch means in a manner whereby in a second position of said one ofsaid switch means said substantially elastic electrical insulatingmaterial is positioned in compressed state between said first currentconducting means and said first current conducting switch member so asto prevent formation of an arc and forms a substantially tight sealbetween the same; 7

electrical conducting means connecting said first and second pairs ofspaced current conducting means in a manner whereby in the firstposition of said switch means the said first and second pairs of spacedcurrent conducting means form a single closed circuit having a singleinput terminal and a single output terminal; and

control means for automatically moving said first switch means from itsfirst to its second position instantaneously so that said substantiallyelastic electrical insulating material instantaneously replaces saidfirst current conducting switch member in position between said firstcurrent conducting means upon movement of said first switch means fromits first to its second position.

4. A device for accelerating electric switching and preventing theformation of an arc comprising, in combination,

first and second pairs of spaced current conducting means;

first and second movably supported switch means;

a first current conducting switch member supported by said first switchmeans in a manner whereby said first current conducting switch member ispositioned between and short circuits said first current conductingmeans in a first position of said first switch means;

a second current conducting switch member supported by said secondswitch means in a manner whereby said second current conducting switchmember is positioned between and short circuits said second currentconducting means in a first position of said second switch means;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said first current conducting switch member by said firstswitch means in a manner whereby in a second position of said firstswitch means said substantially elastic electrical insulating materialis positioned in compressed state between said first current conductingmeans and said first current conducting switch member so as to preventformat-ion of an arc and forms a substantially tight seal between thesame;

electrical conducting means connecting said first and second pairs ofspaced current conducting means in a manner whereby in the firs-tposition of said switch means the said first and second pairs of spacedcurrent conducting means form a single closed circuit having a singleinput terminal and a single output terminal; and

spring biased control means for automatically moving said first switchmeans from its first to its second position instantaneously so that saidsubstantially elastic electrical insulating material instantaneouslyreplaces said first current conducting switch member in position betweensaid first current conducting means upon movement of said first switchmeans from its first to its second position.

5. A device for accelerating electric switching and preventing theformation of an arc comprising, in com bination,

first and second pairs of spaced current conducting means;

first and second movably supported switch means;

a first current conducting switch member supported by said first switchmeans in a manner whereby said first current conducting switch member ispositioned between and short circuits said first current conductingmeans in a first position of said first switch means;

a second current conducting switch member supported by said secondswitch means in a manner whereby said second current conducting switchmember is positioned between and short circuits said second currentconducting means in a first position of said second switch means;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said first current conducting switch member by said firstswitch means in a manner whereby in a second position of said firstswitch means said substantially elastic electrical insulating materialis positioned in compressed state between said first current conductingmeans and said first current conducting switch member so as to preventformation of an arc and forms a substantially tight seal between thesame;

electrical conducting means connecting said first and second pairs ofspaced current conducting means in a manner whereby in the firstposition of said switch means the said first and second pairs of spacedcurrent conducting means form a single closed circuit having a singleinput terminal and a single output terminal; and

control means for automatically moving said first switch means from itsfirst to its second position instantaneously so that said substantiallyelastic electrical insulating material instantaneously replaces saidfirst current conducting switch member in position between said firstcurrent conducting means upon movement of said first switch means fromits first to its second position, and for automatically moving saidfirst switch means from its second position to a third position in whichsaid first switch means is spaced from and open circuits said first pairof spaced current conducting means, said control means automaticallymoving said second switch means from its first position to a secondposition in which it is spaced from and open circuits said second pairof spaced current conducting means at substantially the same time thatit moves said first switch means from its second to its third position.

6. A device for accelerating electric switching and preventing theformation of an arc comprising, in combination,

first and second pairs of spaced current conducting means;

first and second movably supported switch means;

a first current conducting switch member supported by said first switchmeans in a manner whereby said first current conducting switch member ispositioned between and short circuits said first current conductingmeans in a first position of said first switch means;

a second current conducting switch member supported by said secondswitch means in a manner whereby said second current conducting switchmember is positioned between and short circuits said second currentconducting means in a first position of said second switch means;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said first current conducting switch member by said firstswitch means in a manner whereby in a second position of said firstswitch means said substantially elastic electrical insulating materialis positioned in compressed state between said first current conductingmeans and said first current conducting switch member so as to preventformation of an arc and forms a substantially tight seal between thesame;

electrical conducting means connecting said first and second pairs ofspaced current conducting means in a manner whereby in the firstposition of said switch means the said first and second pairs of spacedcurrent conducting means form a single closed circuit having a singleinput terminal and a single output terminal;

control means for automatically moving said first switch means from itsfirst to its second position instantaneously so that said substantiallyelastic electrical insulating material instantaneously replaces saidfirst current conducting switch member in position between said firstcurrent conducting means upon movement of said first switch means fromits first to its second position and for automatically moving said firstswitch means from its second posi tion to a third position in which saidfirst switch means is spaced from and open circuits said first pair ofspaced current conducting means, said control means automatically movingsaid second switch means from its first position to a second position inwhich it is spaced from and open circuits said second pair of spacedcurrent conducting means at substantially the same time that it movessaid first switch means from its second to its third position; and

auxiliary control means for automatically moving said second switchmeans from its second position back to its first position after saidfirst switch means is moved from its second to its third position sothat said second switch means is positioned between and short circuitssaid second current conducting means. 7. A device for acceleratingelectric switching and preventing the formation of an arc comprising, incombination,

first and second pairs of spaced current conducting means;

first and second movably supported switch means;

a first current conducting switch member supported by said first switchmeans in a manner whereby said first current conducting switch member ispositioned between and short circuits said first current conductingmeans in a first position of said first switch means;

a second current conducting switch member supported by said secondswitch means in a manner whereby said second current conducting switchmember is positioned between and short circuits said second currentconducting means in a first position of said second switch means;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said first current conducting switch member by said firstswitch means in a manner whereby in a second position of said firstswitch means said substantially elastic electrical insulating materialis positioned in compressed state between said first current conductingmeans and said first current conducing switch member so as to preventformation of an arc and forms a substantially tight seal between thesame;

electrical conducting means connecting said first and second pairs ofspaced current conducting means in a manner whereby in the firstposition of said switch means the said first and second pairs of spacedcur rent conducting means form a single closed circuit having a singleinput terminal and a single output terminal;

control means for automatically moving said first switch means from itsfirst to its second position instantaneously so that said substantiallyelastic electrical insulating material instantaneously replaces saidfirst current conducting switch member in position between said firstcurrent conducting means upon movement of said first switch means fromits first to its second position and for automatically moving said firstswitch means from its second position to a third position in which saidfirst switch means is spaced from and open circuits said first pair ofspaced current conducting means, said control means automatically movingsaid second switch means from its first position to a second position inwhich it is spaced from and open circuits said second pair of spacedcurrent conducting means at substantially first and second pairs ofspaced current conducting means;

movably supported switch means;

a movable electrically conductive bridge member supported by said switchmeans in a manner whereby said bridge member is positioned between andshort circuits each of said first and second pairs of current conductingmeans thereby to provide a single closed circuit having a single inputterminal and a single output terminal when said switch means is in itsfirst position;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said bridge member by said switch means in a manner whereby ina second position of said switch means said substantially elasticelectrical insulating material is positioned in compressed state betweensaid first pair of spaced current conducting means so as to preventformation of an arc and forms a substantially tight seal between saidfirst pair of current conducting means;

control means for automatically moving said switch means from its firstto its second position instantaneously so that said substantiallyelastic electrical insulating material instantaneously replaces saidbridge member in position between said first pair of current conductingmeans upon movement of said switch means from its first to its secondposition.

9. A device for accelerating electric switching and preventing theformation of an arc comprising, in combination,

first and second pairs of spaced current conducting means;

movably supported switch means;

a movable electrically conductive bridge member supported by said switchmeans in a manner whereby said bridge member is positioned between andshort circuits each of said first and second pairs of current conductingmeans thereby to provide a single closed circuit having a single inputterminal and a single output terminal when said switch means is in itsfirst position;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said bridge member by I said switch means in a manner wherebyin a second position of said switch means said substantially elasticelectrical insulating material is postioned in compressed state'betweensaid first pair of spaced current conducting means so as to preventformation of an arc and forms a substantially tight seal between saidfirst pair of current conducting means; and

electromagnetic control means for automatically moving said switch meansfrom its first to its second position instantaneously so that saidsubstantially elastic electrical'insulating material instantaneouslyreplaces said bridge member in position between said first pair ofcurrent conducting means upon movement of said switch means from itsfirst to its second position.

10. A device for accelerating electric switching and preventing theformation of an arc comprising, in combination,

a housing having an inert dry gas therein;

first and second pairs of spaced current conducting means positioned insaid housing;

movably supported switch means positioned in said housing;

a movable electrically conductive bridge member positioned in saidhousing and supported by said switch means in a manner whereby saidbridge member is positioned between and short circuits each of saidfirst and second pairs of current conducting means thereby to provide asingle closed circuit having a single input terminal and a single outputterminal when said switch means is in its first position;

substantially elastic electrical insulating material immovably supportedadjacent said bridge member by said switch means in a manner whereby ina second position of said switch means said substantially elasticelectrical insulating material is positioned in compressed state betweensaid first pair of spaced current conducting means so as to preventformation of an arc and forms a substantially tight seal between saidfirst pair of current conducting means; and

replaces said bridge member in position between said first pair ofcurrent conducting means upon movement of said switch means from itsfirst to its second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS649,554 Schwedtmann May 15, 1900 electromagnetic control means forautomatically mov- 751 028 Th F b 2, 1904 ing said switch means from itsfirst to its second 10 2,284,347 St May 26, 1942 positioninstantaneously so that said substantially 2,477,837 Strom Aug. 2, 1949elastic electrical insulating material instantaneously 2,888,540Gratzmuller May 26, 1959

1. A DEVICE FOR ACCELERATING ELECTRIC SWITCHING AND PREVENTING THEFORMATION OF AN ARC COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, CURRENT CONDUCTINGMEANS; MOVABLY SUPPORTED SWITCH MEANS; A CURRENT CONDUCTING SWITCHMEMBER SUPPORTED BY SAID SWITCH MEANS IN A MANNER WHEREBY SAID CURRENTCONDUCTING SWITCH MEMBER IS POSITIONED IN CONTACT WITH AND CLOSESCIRCUIT WITH SAID CURRENT CONDUCTING MEANS IN A FIRST POSITION OF SAIDSWITCH MEANS; SUBSTANTIALLY ELASTIC ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALIMMOVABLY SUPPORTED ADJACENT SAID CURRENT CONDUCTING SWITCH MEMBER BYONE OF SAID MEANS IN A MANNER WHEREBY IN A SECOND POSITION OF SAIDSWITCH MEANS SAID SUBSTANTIALLY ELASTIC ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALIS POSITIONED IN COMPRESSED STATE BETWEEN SAID CURRENT CONDUCTING MEANSAND SAID CURRENT CONDUCTING SWITCH MEMBER SO AS TO PREVENT FORMATION OFANY ARC AND FORMS A SUBSTANTIALLY TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN THE SAME; ANDCONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOVING SAID SWITCH MEANS FROM ITS FIRSTTO ITS SECOND POSITION INSTANTANEOUSLY SO THAT SAID SUBSTANTIALLYELASTIC ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIAL INSTANTANEOUSLY REPLACES SAIDCURRENT CONDUCTING SWITCH MEMBER IN POSITION BETWEEN SAID CURRENTCONDUCTING MEANS AND SAID CURRENT CONDUCTING SWITCH MEMBER UPON MOVEMENTOF SAID SWITCH MEANS FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND POSITION.